Cheney Rasputin to Bush’s Nicholas

The Washington Post has released the first of a four-part series exposing Dick Cheney, and Think Progress has a stellar summary of the piece.

Here’s a taste from the story itself:

[O]fficials who see them together often, not all of them admirers of the vice president, detect a strong sense of mutual confidence that Cheney is serving Bush’s aims.

…Cheney holds his purchase on an unrivaled portfolio across the executive branch. Bush works most naturally, close observers said, at the level of broad objectives, broadly declared. Cheney, they said, inhabits an operational world in which means are matched with ends and some of the most important choices are made. When particulars rise to presidential notice, Cheney often steers the preparation of options and sits with Bush, in side-by-side wing chairs, as he is briefed.

Before the president casts the only vote that counts, the final words of counsel nearly always come from Cheney.

Meanwhile, Ezra Klein has an excellent idea on how Congress can bring Cheney to heel — since Bush doesn’t seem to be able to.